Treatment of cotton-seed.



v No. 858,075.

I. KITSEE TREATMENT OF GOTTUN SEED.

APPLIGATION FILED mn2e.1905.

I IIIIIIIIIIIA 5M 8 0mm PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TREATMENT OF COTTON-SEED.

Specification 8f Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

Application filed May 26, 1905. Serial No. 262,436.

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IsIDoaKITsEE, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in the Treatment of Cotton-Seed, (Case No. 258,) ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the treatment of cotton seed.

As is well known, cotton-seed, now used principally for the productionof the socalled cotton-seed oil, is subjected to one of the followingprocesses for the purpose of extracting the oil. One process is to firstdestroy the short hairs or fuzz left on the hull of the seed after theginning process and then to extract the oil through mechanical means.The second process is to first crush the seed to a fine powder and thenthrough mechanical means sift the fuzz out of the crushed particles,whereby such fuzz may be used in the manufacture of articles, such aspaper of a very low grade. Both processes have their disadvantages, andit is the aim of my invention to improve upon said proc-v esses and toproduce a useful article out of the fuzz without necessitating thebreaking up of the seed.

Persons versed in the art are aware that the pure cotton fiber is one ofthe best materials for the production of a soluble cellulose, eitherthrough a nitrating or through similar means.

In Letters Patent No. 789,977, and 789,978, granted to me May 16, 1905,I have described and claimed a method ofmaking amorphous this fiberwithout removing it from the hull of the cotton seed.

According to the present invention a strong solution of chlorid of zincis made and the fiber subjected to the action of this solution tosimultaneously render the fiber soluble and dissolve it from the hull.In using the present method, however, I have found that the action isgreatly facilitated when the temperature of this solution is raised.

To practice my invention, the following steps are preferably employed:First of all, the hull of the cotton seed is broken up and the kernelremoved therefrom by any of the well known processes and appliances, andthe hull with its covering of fuzz is then placed in a receptaclecontaining the chlorid of zinc in solution. As said above, I have foundthat the dissolving of the fiber in a zinc chlorid solution is greatlyfacilitated if temperature about 3 to 5 hours.

the hull can then be removed from the solution by mechanical means, thatis, by simply pouring the solution through a suitable netting or filter.I will state that at a low temperature about 24 to 36 hours arenecessary for the dissolving process and at a raised If this process iscarried on for a greater length of time than is necessary, part of thehull is also dissolved and the solution assumes a brownfish color.

Where such coloration is not objectionable, the dissolving process maybe lengthened, as the resultant mass naturally gains in weight but wherethe solution is desired to be clear, then the contents of the vesselshould be subjected to inspection from time to time. The removed hullhas a value as a fertilizing material, which greatly enhances the valueof this process.

To enable persons to practice this my invention, even on a small scale,I illustrate in plan view the preferred apparatus for making soluble theadherent fiber on the seed, but it is obvious that other devices may besubstituted therefor.

In the figure, 1 is a vessel containing the liquid 5.

, 2 is a vessel, the bottom of which is provided with the perforations3. On this bottom are placed the broken-up hulls 4 to be treated.

6 is the flame or other source of heat.

It is obvious that the whole seed may be subjected to the action of thechlorid of zinc but I prefer that the kernels should first be removed.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. The method of treating cotton-seed whichconsists in first subjecting the seeds to a process whereby the hull isbroken up, then to a process whereby the kernel is removed from saidhull, then subjecting the broken-up hull with its adherent fiber to theaction of a solution of chlorid of zinc for removing the fibertherefrom, and afterward removing said hull from said solution.

2. The method of treating cotton-seed which consists in first subjectingthe seed to a process whereby the hull is broken up, then to a processwhereby the kernel is removed from said hull, then subjecting thebroken-up hull with its adherent fiber to the action of a solution ofchlorid of zinc in the presence of high temperature for removing thefiber therefrom, and afterward removing said hull from said solution.

3. The method of treating cotton-seed which consists in first subjectingthe seed to a process whereby the hull is broken up, then to a processwhereby the kernel is removed from said hull, then subj eoting thebroken-up hull with its adherent fiber to a chemical process whereby thefiber is simultaneously made soluble and dissolved from the hull as anamorphous product.

4. In the method of treating cotton seed, the step of removing theadherent fiber therefrom, which consists in subjecting the hull with itsadherent fiber to the action of a chemical agent capable ofsimultaneously rendering the fiber soluble and dissolving it from thehull.

5. In the method of treating cotton seed, the step of removing theadherent fiber therefrom, which consists in subjecting the hull with itsadherent fiber to the action of a chemical agent capable ofsimultaneously rendering the fiber soluble and dissolving it from thehull, the temperature of the agent being raised during the period inwiden the hull is subjected to such action.

6. In the method of treating cotton seed, the step of removing theadherent fiber therefrom, which consists in subjecting the hull with itsadherent fiber to the action of a solution of chlorid of zinc forsimultaneously rendering the fiber soluble and dissolving it from thehull.

7. In the method of treating cotton seed, the step of removing theadherent fiber therefrom, which consists in subjecting the hull with itsadherent fiber to the action of a solution of chlorid of zinc forsimultaneously rendering the fiber soluble and dissolving it from thehull, the temperature of the chlorid of zinc being raised during theperiod in which the hull is subjected to such action.

8. The method of treating cotton seed, which consists in first breakingup the hulls, then removing the kernels from the hulls, and thensubjecting the broken-up hulls with the adhering fiber to the action ofa solution of chlorid of zinc for simultaneously rendering the fibersoluble and dissolving it from the hull, and then removing the hullsfrom said solution.

In testimony whereof, I hereby sign my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses, this twenty-fifth day of May, A. D. 1905.

ISIDOR KITSEE.

Witnesses:

EDITH R. STILLEY, H. O. YETTER.

